New Forest National Park in England, United Kingdom - map and visitor information

Research checked: 2026-10-24. Check linked official notices before travel.

New Forest National Park in southern England combines woodland, open heath and villages where grazing animals move across the landscape. Start with a woodland walk at Blackwater or Bolderwood, or use Brockenhurst as a rail base for cycling. Choose a specific trailhead before traveling: the park has many access points, and parking charges are separate from countryside access.

Woodland, heath and free-roaming animals

• Blackwater Arboretum: a short woodland circuit among ornamental trees, with tactile sculptures and frequent places to sit.
• Bolderwood: walking trails and picnic space near Lyndhurst. Look for wildlife without approaching or feeding it.
• The open Forest: grazing ponies, donkeys and cattle are part of a working landscape. Watch them from a distance.

Know before you go

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Animals, roads and outdoor preparation

Animals can step onto Forest roads unexpectedly. Drive slowly enough to stop and take particular care in darkness. Keep away from ponies and other livestock; feeding or touching them can create danger for people and animals. Check yourself and your dog for ticks after a walk.

Follow the New Forest code

Fires and barbecues are prohibited. Remove your litter and dog waste. Keep dogs under close control and prevent them from approaching or chasing animals. Park in designated car parks, clear of gateways and access tracks. The New Forest code brings these rules together.

Camping and overnight stays

Wild camping is not allowed in the New Forest. Arrange a pitch at an official campsite with its operator. Check its dates, arrival instructions and booking conditions before traveling; a daytime parking payment does not provide a campsite.

Maps, location, and access

The park lies mainly in southwest Hampshire, with a small part in Wiltshire. From the M27, junction 1 connects with the A337 toward Lyndhurst, Brockenhurst and Lymington. Select the actual car park for your walk rather than navigating to a general park pin. Bolderwood is reached from the A35 near Emery Down; its official grid reference is SU 243 086.

Ashurst, Brockenhurst and Sway stations connect with the permitted cycle network. Use the park's walking and cycling guide to plan a route from your arrival point. Ordnance Survey Explorer OL22 covers the New Forest.

Nearby parks

• Moors Valley Country Park and Forest: on the western side of a New Forest trip, use the signed approach from the A31 at Ashley Heath to Horton Road.
• Royal Victoria Country Park: east of the Forest at Netley Abbey, beside Southampton Water. Its vehicle destination is SO31 5RA.

Choose a walk or cycle route

For a short outing, consider Blackwater Arboretum. Its mostly level gravel circuit has a gentle slope at the start and a gate with a 1.1-meter opening. Check those features against your wheelchair or stroller needs before selecting the walk.

For cycling, use the permitted waymarked tracks. The network links villages and railway stations, so a rail arrival can be combined with a ride. Walking access does not mean every path is available to cyclists.

Facilities and accessibility

Blackwater has two accessible parking bays, accessible toilets, picnic tables, cycle racks and an information point. Bolderwood has toilets and a picnic area. Choose a start point with the facilities you need: other Forest car parks can have neither toilets nor accessible bays.

About the New Forest

A landscape shaped by commoning

William the Conqueror established a royal hunting ground here in 1079. National park status followed in March 2005. Commoning, the historic system of grazing rights, continues alongside farming and forestry to shape the landscape; the free-roaming livestock are not simply an attraction.

Heathland birds and grazing habitats

Grazing helps keep the heath open by limiting scrub and young trees. Nightjars use heathland and young woodland, while stonechats breed in rough open habitats with scattered bushes. Look from the main tracks rather than entering nesting areas. A wildlife outing does not guarantee a sighting.

Contact the park authority

The New Forest National Park Authority is based at Lymington Town Hall, Avenue Road, Lymington, SO41 9ZG. This is an office address, not a trailhead. Use its location and contact page for enquiries. Telephone: +44 1590 646600. Email: [email protected].